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A Hefty Price Tag for Republicans' 3 Health Care Bills

By Michael Rainey

July 26, 2018

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Driven by concern that they’ll be held responsible for rising costs and other problems with the health care system, House Republicans passed bills this week that would, among other things, eliminate the medical device tax, expand the use health savings accounts and delay for another two years a tax on insurance established by the Affordable Care Act.

While some of the provisions are popular among lawmakers – especially the repeal of the medical device tax, a levy that has few supporters in Congress – the bills aren’t expected to become law any time soon. "These bills will not likely pass the Senate or become law. This is essentially a political exercise," said Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI).

The political infeasibility of the legislation didn’t stop the deficit hawks at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget from tallying up the cost of all the provisions, and it’s substantial: $90 billion over 10 years. Details in the chart below.